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M3.7 Depth: 20.3 km

M3.7 Earthquake near Hurunui District, Canterbury (New Zealand)

UTC time: 2026-01-06 18:51:55 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On January 6, 2026 at 18:51 UTC, a magnitude M3.7 earthquake occurred near Hurunui District, Canterbury (New Zealand). The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 20 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this magnitude are often felt but rarely cause damage.

The event was recorded by EMSC. New Zealand: 3 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 20.3 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 20.3 km
Shallow
20.3 km
20.3 km — shallower than the regional average (70 km)
Regional average: 70 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Taranaki
    Distance: 431 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'518 m ·Last eruption: 1800 ·New Zealand
  • Ruapehu
    Distance: 487 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 2'797 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·New Zealand

Historic earthquake map · New Zealand

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Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · New Zealand

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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